MARDAN: Haji Namat Shah Roghani, President, Anjuman-e-Tahafuz-e-Haqooq-e-Kashtkaran, on Friday said that the President State Bank of Pakistan has announced a new agricultural policy under which 12.5% interest has been charged on agricultural loan which will reach to 20% for the poor farmers. Talking to the media Haji Namat Shah Roghani said that at present the country is in dire need of agricultural commodities. The population of the country is increasing and agricultural production is declining. He added that the present government has also increased the prices of fertilizers drastically. He argued that the price of Rs. 3,000 per sack of fertilizers has been increased to Rs. 10,000 per sack. Namat Shah questioned how will production increase when this situation remains the same? He added that the government should provide interest free loans to farmers and landowners and also reduce the prices of fertilizers. He added that billions of rupees were received from farmers in the name of farmer card but till date it is inactive and no subsidy or relief of one rupee has been given to farmers so far. He added that due to the wrong policies of rulers the agriculture sector is standing on the edge of destruction and the poor farmers are living miserable lives. Our Correspondent
